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Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine Eligible for UK Plug-in Car Grant

The T8 Twin Engine is the most complex version of the all-new Volvo XC90 SUV, but that doesn't mean that it has to be expensive. Because this model can power itself on electricity, the British Office of Low Emissions (OLEV) has granted it access to the Plug-in Car Grant (PICG).
2015 Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine 1 photo
Photo: Volvo
According to Volvo, that means you are going to pay £54,955 (including PICG) and receive a large 7-seat model equipped with a Drive-E powertrain. It combines a 320 hp petrol engine and an 87 hp electric motor.

But how much are you going to save thanks to the PICG? Well, the same the same car would typically set you back from £59,995, so the Government is offering £5,000. Every little bit helps, especially when Volvo is competing with some of the most famous SUVs in the world, like the BMW X5 and Audi Q7.

Despite only offering 2 liters of displacement for the internal combustion engine, the XC90 is said to accelerate to 60 mph in only 5.3. That's comparable to a Porsche Boxster. In addition, it's able to run for up to 28 miles on electricity alone and emits less than 50 grams of CO2.

Mind you, this is far from being the only plug-in hybrid SUV on the market. Starting at the premium end of the spectrum, we're looking at the Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid, costing £62,099. It has about the same power output, 416 hp, but uses a much larger V6 engine.

Want an Audi? How about the Audi Q7 e-tron that uses a 3-liter TDI and an electric motor. Pricing hasn't been announced yet, but we expect somewhere in the region of £57,000. Pretty soon, BMW will also launch its X5 xDrive40i model too.

The Plug-in Car Grant (PICG) has a designed criteria to encourage carmakers to decrease the level of outputted CO2 emissions. To be eligible for this, hybrid vehicles must emit less than 75g/km, a minimal traveling range of 10 miles and must reach a speed of at least 60mph.

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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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